1 Samuel 14:16

¶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].

And the watchmen {H6822} of Saul {H7586} in Gibeah {H1390} of Benjamin {H1144} looked {H7200}; and, behold, the multitude {H1995} melted away {H4127}, and they went {H3212} on beating down {H1986} one another.

Sha'ul's men on watch in Giv'at-Binyamin could see the enemy camp scattering and running in all directions.

Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.

Commentary

1 Samuel 14:16 describes a pivotal moment during a tense standoff between the Israelites under King Saul and the Philistine army. This verse marks the beginning of the Philistines' rout, observed by Saul's watchmen.

Context

Prior to this verse, the Philistines had established a strong presence in Israel, intimidating Saul's army. King Saul and his men were encamped in Gibeah of Benjamin, facing a much larger Philistine force. Unknown to Saul, his son Jonathan, driven by faith and a bold spirit, had initiated a daring two-man assault on a Philistine outpost with only his armor-bearer. Jonathan's conviction, "there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few," set the stage for divine intervention. Their initial strike, which killed about twenty Philistines, created panic and confusion in the enemy camp, leading directly to the scene described in verse 16.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: The rapid disintegration of the Philistine army is a clear sign of God's hand at work. What started as a small, audacious act by Jonathan quickly escalated into a widespread panic, supernaturally orchestrated. This highlights God's power to deliver His people, often through unexpected means.
  • The Power of Faith: Jonathan's unwavering faith in God's ability to save, regardless of the odds, was the catalyst for this miraculous turn of events. His courage ignited a divine response that confused and scattered a numerically superior enemy.
  • Confusion Among the Enemy: The phrase "the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another" vividly portrays utter chaos. This internal conflict and self-destruction among the Philistines is a recurring motif in biblical accounts of God fighting for Israel, such as in the time of Gideon against the Midianites.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "the multitude melted away" comes from the Hebrew verb `nāmaṣṣū` (נָמַסּוּ), which literally means to dissolve, melt, or become faint-hearted. It powerfully conveys a sense of rapid disintegration, loss of cohesion, and a collapse of morale. The subsequent description, "they went on beating down [one another]," is from the Hebrew `wa-yakkū ʾîš bə-rēʿēhû` (וַיַּכּוּ אִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ), meaning "and they struck man against his neighbor." This emphasizes the extreme disarray and self-destructive panic that had gripped the Philistine forces, indicating that they were not just retreating but actively fighting amongst themselves, likely mistaking allies for enemies in the confusion.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for believers today. It reminds us that God is not limited by our resources or the size of our challenges. A small act of faith, like Jonathan's, can be the spark God uses to bring about significant victories. When we step out in obedience and trust in God's power, He can cause confusion among our spiritual adversaries and bring about deliverance. It encourages us to have courage and rely on divine strength, knowing that God can turn seemingly insurmountable odds into opportunities for His glory, just as He did for Israel at Michmash.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 7:22

    And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

  • Isaiah 19:2

    And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom.

  • 1 Samuel 14:20

    And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.

  • Psalms 68:2

    As smoke is driven away, [so] drive [them] away: as wax melteth before the fire, [so] let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

  • Psalms 58:7

    Let them melt away as waters [which] run continually: [when] he bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:22

    And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:25

    And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
← Back